In 2007, the Washington Health Alliance began issuing a recurring report on health care performance across the region and the state of Washington. Called the Community Checkup, it has become the umbrella under which the alliance releases public reports on the quality of health care.

The Community Checkup uses the Washington State Common Measure Set for Health Care Quality and Cost, a tool established by state legislation to enable the tracking of such elements as access to primary care, acute care, disease prevention and chronic care. Data are analyzed and reported by the alliance, based on support from more than 185 member organizations, which not only provide the data for much of the alliance’s work but also participate in determining what the alliance studies and how it is communicated.

“Achieving excellence in health care improvement requires continued hard work and commitment,” says alliance Executive Director Nancy Giunto. “The Washington Health Alliance is grateful to those members and stakeholders who have been diligently working alongside us for the past 12 years to achieve high-value, evidence-based health care and better health outcomes in our state.”

Since implementation of the Common Measure Set in 2015, three medical groups have ranked in the top five for quality of health care in each of the past four years. Two others have reached the top five in three of the four years. Each was recognized with Seattle Business magazine’s Leaders in Health Care Awards honorees at a celebration on February 28 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Pioneer Square.

The Everett ClinicAric Coffman, M.D., CEO and market presidentAlka Atal-Barrio, M.D., chief medical officerFounded in 1924. Operates 30 care sites throughout Snohomish and King counties caring for more than 330,000 patients and employing about 2,400.

UW Medicine/Valley Medical CenterRich Roodman, CEOTimothy Dellit, M.D., chief medical officerThe oldest and largest public district hospital in the state of Washington, founded in 1947. Serves more than 600,000 residents in South King County.